I noticed the other night that when driving in the dark the interior light flashes intermittently. I have LEDs in the map and main light but its not done this before with the LEDs in.I have retro fitted some rear interior lights from an estate and they are fine.Even with them disconnected the front ones still flash.There is nothing that seems to set them off, its just random at speed or idle.

Any ideas as its annoying!

A glow observable in the dark is normal with LED's for which the resolution is to solder a 1k ohm resistor to the back of the interior bulb.

Flashing I'm not sure of though.

Was it raining at the time???

I only ask as my LED interior lights sometimes flicker slightly when the wipers start moving when on intermittent wipe.

Cheers

Dave.

Cheers for the replies lads. The glow is intermittent so not all the time as they seem to flash!

Yes, the wipers were on intermittent as it was raining.Do you know why they do this?

Presumably it's an artefact you're not meant to see. LED's run at such low voltage they glow a little in the dark whereas the standard bulbs need more power. I suspect the Central Electrics unit, which controls both interior lights and wipers, is designed in such a manner that it reduces power to the interior lights either intentionally or otherwise.

One of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/100-x-1k-Ohm-0-25w-Carbon-Resistors-1-4w-Resistor-1kR-/350333282826?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item51917daa0a soldered to the back of the bulb in the middle should kill the glow, or swap one of the bulbs for a standard one.

Presumably it's an artefact you're not meant to see. LED's run at such low voltage they glow a little in the dark whereas the standard bulbs need more power. I suspect the Central Electrics unit, which controls both interior lights and wipers, is designed in such a manner that it reduces power to the interior lights either intentionally or otherwise.

One of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/100-x-1k-Ohm-0-25w-Carbon-Resistors-1-4w-Resistor-1kR-/350333282826?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item51917daa0a soldered to the back of the bulb in the middle should kill the glow, or swap one of the bulbs for a standard one.

When you say soldered to the back of the bulb, do you mean across the bulb contacts or just from one to the feed on the car? Mine stays glowing, even if the ignition is off and i'm out of the car :p I even got an MOT advisory for it

From one bulb contact to the other, there's no polarity to worry about. The festoon one in the middle is easiest to do this to. It adds just enough load to kill the glow is the idea. You only need one, they're sold in quantity on ebay but by the time you've driven to Maplins to buy one you've used more petrol/diesel than it costs to get 100 on your doormat.

Edited 8 November, 201015 yr by anewman

Presumably it's an artefact you're not meant to see. LED's run at such low voltage they glow a little in the dark whereas the standard bulbs need more power. I suspect the Central Electrics unit, which controls both interior lights and wipers, is designed in such a manner that it reduces power to the interior lights either intentionally or otherwise.

One of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/100-x-1k-Ohm-0-25w-Carbon-Resistors-1-4w-Resistor-1kR-/350333282826?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item51917daa0a soldered to the back of the bulb in the middle should kill the glow, or swap one of the bulbs for a standard one.

I would think the switching is done with transistors in the car electronics,and whereas a mechanical switch,or relay when off does not allow ANY current to flow to the bulbs.Transistors when off still allow a few milliamps flowing,which is enough to illuminate a LED at low brilliance. An LED is a low current device , about 10 to 20 milliamps,0.02 amps and is fully on at about 2.2 to 4 volts supply. Compare that to a filament bulb ,12 to 14 volts ,about 1/2 amp!

Edited 8 November, 201015 yr by AndyPandy